When a beautiful actress recommends using a particular shampoo, or a macho action movie star drives a specific model of car, the public listens. Many may follow the famous person’s example.

That’s why companies hire the famous, the beautiful, the influential to deliver their message to the public.

When famous people commit suicide, mental health and suicide prevention advocates always brace for “copycat” suicides from those who were teetering on the edge and find an unfortunate source of encouragement from someone they admired.